Practice Tests Flashcards
Which of the following actions should the medical administrative assistant take when closing the office?
A. Activate the security system.
B. File charts that were used that day.
C. Turn off the answering machine.
D. Follow up on refill requests.
Activate the security system.
When preparing a claim, a medical administrative assistant should use which of the following formats when entering a date of birth?
A. DDMMY
B. MMDDYY
C. MMDDYYYY
D. DDMMYYYY
MMDDYYYY
Which of the following parties owns a patient’s physical medical record?
A. The government
B. The insurance carrier
C. The patient
D. The provider
The provider
When a provider requests a patient to have a diagnostic test at a hospital, which of the following actions should the medical administrative assistant take?
A. Collect the coinsurance for the procedure.
B. Have the provider call the hospital and give orders for the test.
C. Advise the patient to obtain preauthorization.
D. Schedule the test with the hospital.
Schedule the test with the hospital.
An office manager asks a medical administrative assistant to mail a letter to a patient who is being dismissed from the practice. Which of the following methods should the assistant use to mail the letter?
A. Certified Mail
B. First-Class Mail
C. Priority Mail
D. Standard Mail
Certified Mail
Which of the following medical terms refers to the removal of all or part of an organ or tissue?
A. Lymphadenectomy
B. Episiotomy
C. Colostomy
D. Thoracotomy
Lymphadenectomy
Which of the following is the party who is financially responsible for payment?
A. Beneficiary
B. Adjudicator
C. Fiscal agent
D. Guarantor
Guarantor
A provider’s office receives a remittance advice showing a denial code. The medical administrative assistant creates a formal written request for review of the rejected claim. The assistant should use which of the following formats?
A. Tracer
B. Explanation of benefits (EOB)
C. Claim appeal
D. Advance Beneficiary Notice (ABN)
Claim appeal
A medical administrative assistant is giving instructions to a patient who is in the office to have her hearing aid checked and is having difficulty hearing the assistant. Which of the following actions should the assistant take?
A. Move the patient to a quiet location.
B. Ask the patient to turn her hearing aid up.
C. Sit side-by-side with the patient while speaking.
D. Speak in a loud voice.
Move the patient to a quiet location.
A medical administrative assistant is reviewing the release form of a patient who is a dependent minor. The assistant should ensure that who of the following signed the release form?
A. A parent
B. The minor
C. The attending provider
D. The legal custodian
The legal custodian
A medical administrative assistant instructs a patient to arrive on Monday at 9:00 a.m. for cast removal because the provider is only available on Monday mornings for that procedure. Which of the following methods of scheduling is the assistant using?
A. Open hours
B. Wave
C. Double-booking
D. Clustering
Clustering
Which of the following terms indicates the improper release of PHI?
A. Libel
B. Felony
C. Breach of contract
D. Breach of confidentiality
Breach of confidentiality
A new patient provides a medical administrative assistant with her parent’s Medicare card. The patient states that she is a dependent and is eligible to use the card. Which of the following actions should the assistant take?
A. Accept the Medicare card because the patient is related to the beneficiary.
B. Contact Medicare to see if the patient is a covered dependent.
C. Explain to the patient that Medicare does not cover dependents.
D. Include the parent’s name on the superbill.
Explain to the patient that Medicare does not cover dependents.
A provider prescribes an EKG for a patient who has a rapid heart rate. Which of the following should be recorded as the reason for the EKG?
A. Tachypnea
B. Bradypnea
C. Bradycardia
D. Tachycardia
Tachycardia
A medical administrative assistant is creating a business correspondence. Which of the following salutations is appropriate for the assistant to use?
A. Dear Mr. Goodwin:
B. Dear Mr. Mark Smith M.D.,
C. RE: JANE HUDLEY
D. Dear Dennis,
Dear Mr. Goodwin:
A patient has a diagnosis of hypertension. Which of the following describes hypertension?
A. Low blood glucose
B. Low blood pressure
C. High blood glucose
D. High blood pressure
High blood pressure
Obtaining vital signs against a patient’s will is an example of which of the following offences?
A. Assault
B. Battery
C. Negligence
D. Fraud
Battery
Which of the following is a step in the annotation process?
A. Rewriting text
B. Paraphrasing text
C. Highlighting text
D. Deleting text
Highlighting text
A medical administrative assistant is providing a patient with instructions about an upcoming mammogram. Which of the
following actions should the assistant take to ensure patient understanding?
A. Send the patient an electronic appointment reminder.
B. Provide the patient with written instructions.
C. Remind the patient to bring insurance information.
D. Ask the patient to restate the instructions.
Ask the patient to restate the instructions.
Which of the following is an appropriate use of a tickler file?
A. To inform the provider about current updates
B. To remind staff of date-specific tasks
C. To document staff disciplinary actions
D. To train new employees
To remind staff of date-specific tasks
When creating a reception area for a pediatric clinic, which of the following items should the medical administrative assistant include?
A. Accessible coffee and tea
B. Artificial plants and floral arrangements for aesthetics
C. Stuffed animals and small building blocks
D. Scented candles to mask odors
Artificial plants and floral arrangements for aesthetics
Who is responsible for obtaining preauthorization for inpatient hospitalization?
A. The patient
B. The admitting facility
C. The plan administrator
D. The provider performing the procedure
The provider performing the procedure
Before adding medical records to a patient’s chart, the medical administrative assistant should take which of the following actions?
A. File the records by chronological date.
B. Photocopy the records for the provider to review and sign.
C. Ensure the provider has initialed reports.
D. Note in the report that the patient was notified of the results.
Ensure the provider has initialed reports.
A patient who has Medicare insurance is covered for both inpatient and outpatient services under the same part of Medicare. Which of the following parts of Medicare covers the patient?
A. Part A
B. Part B
C. Part C
D. Part D
Part C
Which of the following is the purpose of an encounter form?
A. To save time and improve accuracy in data entry
B. To establish financial responsibility
C. To update the status of a workers’ compensation case
D. To verify patient demographics
To save time and improve accuracy in data entry
Which of the following is the best way for a medical administrative assistant to greet an established patient who is entering the physician’s office for an appointment?
A. “Hello.
B. “Your name, please?”
C. “Good afternoon, Mrs. Johnson.”
D. “You must be the 9:30 appointment. Please have a seat, and someone will call for you shortly.”
“Good afternoon, Mrs. Johnson.”
Which of the following forms is used to submit health insurance claims for inpatient services in a facility or hospital?
A. CMS-1500
B. UB-04
C. DE 2501
D. CMS-1490S
UB-04
Which of the following schedules more than one patient at the same time with the same provider while still allowing adequate time within the hour to see all scheduled patients?
A. Double-booking
B. Clustering
C. Open hours
D. Wave
Wave
Which of the following is the primary reason for a medical administrative assistant to document no-shows and cancellations with less than 24 hr notice?
A. To ensure accurate billing for missed appointments
B. To expedite insurance claims
C. To maintain scheduling integrity
D. To update patient records
To maintain scheduling integrity
For which of the following tasks should a medical administrative assistant use Microsoft Access?
A. Encrypting documents
B. Creating a database
C. Scheduling a meeting
D. Creating a spreadsheet
Creating a database
Which of the following is the amount the medical administrative assistant should submit to the secondary insurance carrier if the encounter balance is $360 and the patient has two plans with an 80/20 split?
A. $20
B. $72
C. $80
D. $288
$72
A patient who has Medicare and had an annual wellness visit (AWV) 10 months ago calls to schedule their next one within the
week. Which of the following actions is appropriate for the medical administrative assistant to take?
A. Explain that the AWV cannot be scheduled for another 2 months
B. Schedule the AMW within the week
C. Record the appointment as an office visit rather than as a AWV.
D. Submit a preauthorization form to Medicare before scheduling the AWV.
Explain that the AWV cannot be scheduled for another 2 months
Which of the following is the appropriate procedure for a medical administrative assistant when handling a rejected health
insurance claim?
A. Downcode the claim to ensure payment.
B. Resubmit the claim with new diagnostic and procedure codes.
C. Verify coding compliance and resubmit the claim for adjudication.
D. Update the claim with an alternate date of service.
Verify coding compliance and resubmit the claim for adjudication.
Providers should use which of the following when a procedure is excluded from the Medicare fee schedule?
A. CMS-1500 claim form
B. Procedure consent form
C. Advance Beneficiary Notice (ABN)
D. Medicare Summary Notice (MSN)
Advance Beneficiary Notice (ABN)
Which of the following is the most effective way for a medical administrative assistant to reduce the number of no-show appointments?
A. Send a text message 1 to 2 days before a scheduled appointment.
B. Send a text message 1 week before a scheduled appointment.
C. Call patients 1 to 2 days before a scheduled appointment.
D. Call patients 1 week before a scheduled appointment.
Call patients 1 to 2 days before a scheduled appointment.
A medical administrative assistant is scheduling a patient for a procedure. Which of the following actions should the assistant take first?
A. Provide test preparation instructions.
B. Ensure that a signed consent form is filed in the patient’s chart.
C. Verify the patient’s insurance.
D. Obtain a written prescription from the provider.
Obtain a written prescription from the provider.
Which of the following documents must a medical administrative assistant provide for a patient to submit for reimbursement?
A. Patient registration form
B. Claims register
C. Remittance advice
D. Encounter form
Encounter form
Prior to an invasive procedure, a patient asks a medical administrative assistant about other options that are available. Which of the following actions should the assistant take?
A. Inform the patient of commonly used alternatives
B. Advise the patient to ask the provider about alternatives
C. Seek out a clinical medical assistant to explain alternatives.
D. Provide the patient with alternate providers’ telephone numbers.
Advise the patient to ask the provider about alternatives
When a medical administrative assistant communicates information that contains PHI, which of the following means is appropriate?
A. Letter
B. Text message
C. Email
D. Voicemail message
Letter
When reviewing laboratory results, a medical administrative assistant should take which of the following actions after pulling the patient’s chart and flagging abnormal results?
A. Place the results on the clinical medical assistant’s desk for review.
B. Contact the patient to schedule an appointment.
C. Place the results on the provider’s desk for review.
D. File the patient’s chart for review at the next appointment.
Place the results on the provider’s desk for review.
A patient receives an explanation of benefits stating services will not be covered because out-of-pocket medical expenses have not been met. The amount owed is defined as which of the following?
A. Deductible
B. Copayment
C. Allowed amount
D. Coinsurance
Deductible
An older adult patient presents to a physician’s office with his adult daughter to clarify when to take his new medication. Which of the following actions should the medical administrative assistant take?
A. Advise the daughter to administer the medication as written on the prescription label until the physician can be reached.
B. Advise the daughter and patient that the physician will speak to them about the prescription.
C. Advise the daughter that the prescription can only be discussed with the patient.
D. Advise the daughter to contact the patient’s pharmacy to clarify the prescription.
Advise the daughter and patient that the physician will speak to them about the prescription.
Which of the following prefixes means “muscle”?
A. Mal-
B. My-
C. Para-
D. Hemi-
My-
Which of the following is a disease-causing organism?
A. Fomite
B. Pathogen
C. Infection
D. Carrier
Pathogen
Once a physician signs advance directives, the medical administrative assistant should have which of the following witness the signature?
A. Attorney
B. Health care employee
C. Non-affiliated individual
D. Family member
Non-affiliated individual
Based on HIPAA guidelines, a medical administrative assistant should take which of the following safeguards when leaving a
workstation?
A. Lock the computer.
B. Exit the program.
C. Turn off the computer monitor.
D. Minimize open programs.
Lock the computer.
Which of the following allows employees access to information regarding workplace safety?
A. Exposure control
B. Universal precautions
C. Right-to-know law
D. Hazardous Communication Standard
Right-to-know law
For medical billing purposes, which of the following is good practice when updating information from established patients?
A. Provide the patient with a new information form at each visit.
B. Ask the patient to update information every 2 years.
C. Monitor patient records eligible for archiving.
D. Request verification of current patient information at each visit.
Request verification of current patient information at each visit.
A medical administrative assistant is asked to schedule a CXR for a patient. The assistant should make an appointment for
which of the following?
A. An x-ray of the carpals
B. An x-ray of the chest
C. An x-ray of the cranium
D. An x-ray of the coccyx
An x-ray of the chest
Which of the following is required to establish medical necessity on the patient encounter form?
A. Diagnosis code
B. Insurance carrier’s identification number
C. PI number
D. POS code
Diagnosis code
Which of the following describes stream scheduling?
A. The provider sees patients according to medical necessity.
B. The provider sees patients in the order they arrive
C. Three patients are scheduled for 0900.
D. A patient’s appointment is from 0900 to 0915.
A patient’s appointment is from 0900 to 0915.
Which of the following telephone calls should the medical administrative assistant route directly to the provider?
A. A health insurance carrier requests a patient’s medical notes.
B. A provider from another office needs to discuss a patient’s case.
C. Workers’ compensation needs a return-to-work date for a patient.
D. An attorney calls to discuss a patient’s case.
A provider from another office needs to discuss a patient’s case.
A collected specimen needs to be sent to an outside laboratory. Which of the following actions is within the scope of practice of a medical administrative assistant?
A. Match the specimen to the demographics on the patient’s chart.
B. Process the requisition for shipment
C. Prepare the specimen for secure transport.
D. Ensure proper storage of the specimen prior to shipment.
Process the requisition for shipment
A patient’s chart indicates the need for PT as a result of a strained muscle. The medical administrative assistant should recognize the abbreviation PT as which of the following?
A. Prothrombin time
B. Patient temperature
C. Physical therapy
D. Puncture tear
Physical therapy
Which of the following actions is appropriate for a medical administrative assistant to take when providing preoperative instructions to a patient who is anxious?
A. Assure the patient that he will be okay.
B. Allow extra time to reinforce the instruction
C. Involve family members if the patient failed to tell them of the procedure.
D. Hand the instructions to the patient and ask if the patient has any questions.
Allow extra time to reinforce the instruction
Several patients cancel their appointments for the day. Which of the following is the first action for the medical administrative assistant to take?
A. Call the last patient of the day to see if he can come in earlier.
B. Contact patients who are on the waiting list.
C. Bill the patients for the missed appointments.
D. Document patients as no-shows.
Contact patients who are on the waiting list.
Which of the following colors indicates a biohazardous waste container?
A. Black
B. Purple
C. Red
D. Blue
Red
Which of the following describes a difference between Medicare and Medicaid?
A. Medicare serves medically needy patients, and Medicaid serves patients who are older than 65 years of age.
B. Medicare patients do not pay monthly premiums, but Medicaid patients do pay premiums.
C. Medicare is funded by the federal government, but Medicaid is funded by both state and federal governments.
D. Medicare is a health cost assistance program, and Medicaid provides insurance coverage.
Medicare is funded by the federal government, but Medicaid is funded by both state and federal governments.
A medical administrative assistant in a multi-specialty practice is scheduling an appointment for a patient who has an
arrhythmia. The assistant should schedule an appointment with which of the following providers?
A. Neurologist
B. Cardiologist
C. Pathologist
D. Pulmonologist
Cardiologist
Which of the following letter styles is most efficient?
A. Block
B. Standard
C. Modified block indented
D. Simplified
Block
Which of the following prefixes means “masculine”?
A. Andr-
B. Myel-
C. Mast-
D. Anti-
Andr-
To which of the following departments should a patient go for a WBC count?
A. Nuclear medicine
B. Radiology
C. Laboratory
D. Orthopedic department
Laboratory
Which of the following types of referrals is used in an emergent situation?
A. Regular
B. Urgent
C. Stat
D. Self
Stat
Which of the following must be provided to a patient on a first visit, as required by HIPAA?
A. An authorization form
B. Notice of Privacy Practices
C. A consent form
D. Patient’s Bill of Rights
Notice of Privacy Practices
Which of the following abbreviations is a type of insurance plan?
A. POS
B. COB
C. DME
D. OIG
POS (point of service is an open HMO)
A provider is running 30 min behind schedule because of an early morning emergency. Which of the following actions should the
medical administrative assistant take to maintain effective scheduling in the office?
A. Inform waiting patients that an emergency has caused a delay in the schedule and that they can wait or reschedule.
B. Call afternoon patients and tell them there was an unexpected delay in the schedule and their appointments will be
postponed.
C. Cancel afternoon appointments and reschedule for first available openings.
D. Tell waiting patients an emergency has caused a delay in the schedule and that their appointments have been rescheduled.
Inform waiting patients that an emergency has caused a delay in the schedule and that they can wait or reschedule.
Which of the following office procedures is OUTSIDE the scope of practice of a medical administrative assistant?
A. Signing for a shipment of personal protective equipment (PPE)
B. Distributing petty cash for out-of-pocket expenses
C. Signing for a court-ordered subpoena issued for the office
D. Distributing intra-office mail to team members
Signing for a court-ordered subpoena issued for the office
A patient is seeking a second opinion for an upcoming surgical procedure and has a referral from a provider. When the patient
calls to schedule an appointment, which of the following actions should the medical administrative assistant take to assist in this process?
A. Schedule the appointment following a 2-day waiting period.
B. Verify that the patient’s insurance is accepted by the provider.
C. Instruct the patient to obtain preauthorization for the referral.
D. Call the referring provider to confirm the referral.
Verify that the patient’s insurance is accepted by the provider.
Prior to a patient leaving the office, she is asked to pay 10% of a $100 office visit. Which of the following best describes this fee?
A. Coinsurance
B. Deductible
C. Copayment
D. Allowed charge
Coinsurance
A patient who has Cohn’s disease should be scheduled with which of the following specialists?
A. Endocrinologist
B. Gastroenterologist
C. Pulmonologist
D. Neurologist
Gastroenterologist
According to the Affordable Care Act (ACA) of 2010, what is the maximum allowable time from the date of service that a claim
can be submitted to Medicare?
A. 30 days
B. 6 months
C. 12 months
D. 32 months
12 months
Which of the following oversees workplace safety?
A. OSHA
B. JC
C. CLIA
D. DOL
OSHA
After deactivating the security system, which of the following actions should a medical administrative assistant take next when opening the office in the morning?
A. Access the answering service.
B. Restock the exam rooms.
C. Print the appointment schedule for the day.
D. Ensure petty cash is available
Access the answering service.
Which of the following indicates a patient is aware of the medical necessity, the risks, and the benefits of a procedure?
A. Informed consent
B. Mandatory report
C. Implied consent
D. Advance directives
Informed consent
Which of the following word roots means “abdominal wall”?
A. Gastr/o
B. Myel/o
C. Aden/o
D. Lapar/o
Lapar/o
A provider asks a medical administrative assistant to schedule a surgery to remove a patient’s gallbladder. The assistant should schedule the patient for which of the following?
A. Cholecystography
B. Cholecystogram
C. Cholecystitis
D. Cholecystectomy
Cholecystectomy
A patient is identified as a smoker in her medical record and requests a medical record amendment due to her cessation of smoking 15 years earlier. Which of the following sections of the Patient’s Bill of Rights is the patient exercising?
A. Confidentiality of Health Information
B. Respect and Nondiscrimination
C. Complaints and Appeals
D. Consumer Responsibilities
Confidentiality of Health Information
Which of the following should a medical administrative assistant consult to find the proper method of scheduling an
appointment for a particular office?
A. Practice policy manual
B. The Official Guide for Coding and Reporting (OGCR)
C. A medical administrative assistant textbook
D. The AMA’s Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) manual
Practice policy manual
Which of the following items is appropriate to purchase with petty cash?
A. Postage owed for an equipment delivery
B. Five boxes of computer paper
C. $75 gift card for Employee of the Quarter
D. Provider’s cell phone payment
Postage owed for an equipment delivery
Which of the following actions is required by a patient when requesting a copy of his medical record?
A. Call the physician’s office to verify his identity
B. Provide a signed HIPAA privacy notice
C. Complete a Record Release Authorization.
D. Submit a provider request form
Complete a Record Release Authorization.
A provider requests a medical administrative assistant to schedule an electroencephalogram for a patient. Which of the following statements by the assistant is an appropriate explanation of this procedure to the patient?
A. “This procedure is used to test how your heart functions.”
B. “This procedure records your brain’s electrical activity.”
C. “This procedure records your lung function.”
D. “This procedure is used to assess your electrolyte levels.”
“This procedure records your brain’s electrical activity.”